B

back up (v.) backup (n. and adj.)

backwardNot backwards.

barbecueNot barbeque or Bar-B-Q.

because, sinceUse because to denote a specific cause-effect relationship: He went because he was told.Since is acceptable when the first event in a sequence leads logically to the second but is not its direct cause: They went to the game, since they had been given the tickets.

beside, besidesBeside means at the side of. Besides means in addition to.

best-sellerHyphenate in all uses.

bi- The rules in prefixes apply, but in general, no hyphen. Some examples: bipartisan, bimonthly, bifocal, bilingual

biannual, biennialBiannual means twice a year and is a synonym for the word semiannual. Biennial means every two years.

bimonthlyBimonthly means every other month. Semimonthly means twice a month.

biweeklyBiweekly means every other week. Semiweekly means twice a week.

blogA website where short entries are usually (but not always) presented in reverse chronological order with the newest entry first. Can be news, commentary, photos, video, or any combination of the above and other items. Originally a shortening of the term "Web log," blog is no commonly used.

board of directors, board of trusteesAlways lowercase internal elements of an organization when they have names that are widely used generic terms: the board of trustees for the university; Tacoma Art Museum's board of directors. Capitalize when using the full, official name: University of Puget Sound Board of Trustees; Puget Sound Board of Trustees.

Note: Cabinet is a widely used generic term and should therefore be lowercase. Capitalize internal elements of an organization when they have names that are not widely used generic terms: the General Assembly of the World Council of Churches, the House of Delegates of the American Medical Association.

boardroomOne word in all uses. Exception: Murray Board Room

The Boeing CompanyUse The Boeing Company on first reference. Boeing alone is fine on second reference.